Tuesday, 12 November 2013

New European group launched to halt ‘growing threat’ of state-sanctioned euthanasia

A new coalition was launched in Brussels on Wednesday
13 November 2013 to combat the growing threat of euthanasia across Europe.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Europe, (EPC-Europe)
brings together organisations and individuals from across the continent to
campaign against the erosion of laws that protect people from euthanasia.

This new campaign group will act as a powerful voice against
attempts to change laws across Europe that protect people from euthanasia and
assisted suicide.

Dr Kevin Fitzpatrick, OBE, Coordinator of EPC-Europe said: ‘The
UK, France and Germany are currently considering legislation, but overwhelming
evidence from jurisdictions where euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide is legal,
such as Belgium and the Netherlands, demonstrates beyond doubt, how quickly and
easily euthanasia is extended to others, especially disabled people and elderly
people.High-profile cases here have provoked international
outrage leading commentators to think of Belgium as the new world leader in
exploiting euthanasia against those with disabilities and mental health issues
for example.’

The group will highlight cases of euthanasia in Belgium
including those of Mark and Eddy Verbessem, the 45-year-old deaf identical
twins, who were euthanised by the Belgian state, after their eyesight began to
fail; and the case of Nathan/Nancy Verhelst, whose life was ended in front of
TV cameras, after a series of botched sex-change operations. His mother said
she hated girls, found her child ‘so ugly’ at birth and did not mourn his
death. And the case of Ann G, who had anorexia and who opted to have her life
ended after being sexually abused by the psychiatrist who was supposed to be
treating her for the life-threatening condition.

Dr Fitzpatrick continued, ‘The lack of proper social care
in Belgium as well as medical failures, mean non-terminally ill patients are
left with no choice and suffer fatal consequences. Euthanasia has also begun in
Belgium for organ donation, and for prisoners.’

EPC-Europe will also warn that Belgium is currently
considering extending euthanasia to children. ‘We all know that euthanasia
is already practised on children,’ said the head of the intensive care unit of
Fabiola Hospital in Brussels.

In the Netherlands disabled new-born babies are euthanised
under the Groningen Protocol, on grounds of ‘their perceived future suffering,
or that of their parents’. This includes neonates with spina bifida.

As Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, of the British House of
Lords said:‘If that had existed in the UK when I was born there is a
possibility that I would not be alive now. I would never have been
allowed to experience life and my daughter might never have been born.’

The group will highlight changing attitudes to disabled and
vulnerable people, saying that those with physical and mental disabilities,
elderly and poor people must be given the same protections as non-disabled,
wealthier people.

In the Netherlands the number of deaths by euthanasia has
increased by 64% between 2005 and 2010. In comparison, the Dutch population
grew by less than two percent over the same period. Yet the Dutch are now
discussing the extension of euthanasia to people with dementia despite huge
concerns about proper consent.

Dr Fitzpatrick concluded, ‘EPC-Europe brings people from
a wide variety of backgrounds together to oppose the legalisation of euthanasia
and assisted suicide, promote the best care and support for vulnerable people
and to help people to find meaning, purpose and hope in the face of suffering
and despair. We invite others who share our concerns to join us and work
alongside us.’

Aims of EPC-Europe

We
oppose the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide and will work
to repeal existing laws allowing it

We
promote the best care and support for vulnerable people who are sick,
elderly, or disabled

We
affirm life through helping people to find meaning, purpose and hope in
the face of suffering and despair.

We will work throughout Europe, and with like-minded people
and organisations across the world.

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Kiwi, Christian and Medical

This blog deals mainly with matters at the interface of Christianity and Medicine. But I do also diverge into other subjects - especially New Zealand, rugby, economics, developing world, politics and topics of general Christian and/or medical interest. The opinions expressed here are mine and may not necessarily reflect the views of my employer or anyone else associated with me.

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I am CEO of Christian Medical Fellowship, a UK-based organisation with 4,500 UK doctors and 1,000 medical students as members. The opinions expressed here however are mine, and may not necessarily reflect the views of CMF or anyone else associated with me.